Dam per-regulator



(No Model.)

- J. E. WATTS.

DAMPER REGULATOR. v No. 462,961. Patented Nov. 10, 1891.

[we/liar Jisazu/z l7. M27326. 2? if gffi UNTTED STATES PATENT QEEICE.

JOSEPH E. lVlXTTS, OF LAW'RENOE, MASSACHUSETTS.

DAM PER-REGULATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,961, dated November 10, 1891. Application filed April 6, 1891 Serial No. 387,803. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH E. \VATTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Law rence,in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Damper-Regulators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in damper-regulators in which a thermostat is employed to automaticallyeontrol said damper and acts dependently upon the amount of heat desired.

My invention is embodied in the peculiar arrangement of the several parts by which the regulator can be adjusted to varying degrees of temperature within certain limits, as may be desired or as circumstances dictate.

The drawings represent in Figure 1 a side elevation, and in Fig. 2 a front elevation, of a boiler supplied with a regulator containing my invention. Fig. 3 isa plan. In Fig. 1 the fulcrum bar or rod is shown in section.

In the accompanying drawings is shown a boiler at 2 adapted, preferably, for hot-water circulation and system, and is composed of the usual principal parts-an exterior shell 3, a flue 4, a feed-door 5, and an ash-door or damper (i. The latter is controlled by a damper-regulator, which is composed of a metallic tube 7, preferably one having a large coefficient of expansion. This tube is connected at top and bottom with the boiler to permit free circulation of water or steam therethrough, and by the change in the temperature of such water or steam the position of the damper or ash-door is regulated and the quantity of air admitted to the fire is controlled. The lower part of this circulating tube or pipe 7 is closely fastened to the boilershell, thereby rendering this point a fixed one, comparatively speaking. On the other hand, the upper portion is connected by aseparate section or elbow-piece 8 in order to allow for the expansion which is to occur at this end, which is intended to be a free end. Secured to each end of this tube '7 are plates or brackets 9,in which is supported the contact-post 10, so termed. This latter is to be made, preferably, of wood with the grain lengthwise, and in which the coefficient of expansion isa minimum. The ends of this post are capped with metal, the lower cap 12 being exteriorlyscrewthreaded and adapted to engage in the lower plate 9 while the upper one 13 is furnished with a pin 14, moving freely through a'hole in the upper plate 9, said pin terminating in a knife-edge. Exteriorly about this post is slipped a'loose sleeve 20, which is simply to strengthen the post 10 and prevents it from buckling, but otherwise has no effect upon the action of the said post.

Surmounting the tube 7 and affixed thereto is a support or standard 15, in which a lever 16 is pivoted, said lever carrying a counterbalance-weight 1'7 at one end and being at the other end connected by a chain or other coutinuous band 18 with the damper 6. This weight is adjustable upon the lever and is to be changed in position aceordingto the weight of the damper and renders the latter perfeetly balanced. In this way no work is placed upon the thermostat, but the latter is free to operate according as the temperature varies in the circulating-tube 7.

Before describing the operation of the above mechanism it is to be understood that when the boiler is not in use the damper is open, while the leveris in such position that it rests upon the knife-edge at the extremity of the fulcrurn-post 10. This adjustment may be effected by regulating thelength of the connecting-chain 18, or, preferably, by axial rotation of the contact-post, which can be raised or lowered in positionby turning the lower cap 12, which is split orgrooved to admit a screw driver or other suitable tool for adjustment.

The operation of the several parts is as follows, it being understood that the damper is open, while the lower ends of both the circulatiug-tube 7 and the fulcrum-post are fixed points. Assuming that the boiler has been fired, as the heat of the water or steam pass ing through the tube 7 begins to expand it longitudinally the upper free end rises and the lever 10 is lifted on the side carrying the weight. As a consequence the damper is caused to swing and partially close. As wood with the fibers lengthwise has little or no 00- efficient of expansion, the length of the contact-post remains of a fixed length, while the expansion and contraction of the tube 7 serve to rock the lever 16, which operates to close the damper as expansion ensues and opens when contraction takes place. The ends of this post 10 are capped in order to have the least amount of metal possiblein the construction of said post. In lieu of wood a metallic post may be employed, the only condition, however, being that its coefficient of expansion shall be less than that of the tube '7.

WVhat I claim is 1. The combination, with the boiler, of a circulating-tube free to expand at one end, a lever supported by said tube, a contact-post having a lesser coefficient of expansion than the said tube and arranged to engage said lever near the fulcrum of the latter, a damper, and a connection between said lever and said dampen,

2. The combination, with the boiler, of the circulating-tube 7, connected with said boiler and free to expand at one end, the plates 9, attached to said tube, a contact-post having a lesser coefficient of expansion than the said tube and attached at one end to one of said plates and passing freely through the other of said plates to engage the said lever, a damper, and a connection between said damper and said lever.

3. The combination, with the boiler, of the circulating-tube 7, the plates 9, attached to said tube, a contact-post 10, having a lesser coefficient of expansion than said tube and arranged to engage the said lever near its fulcrum, said post being adjustably secured at its lower end to one of said plates and passing freely at its upper end through the other of said plates, a damper, and a connection between said damper and said lever.

4. The combination, with the boiler, of the circulating-tube 7, attached to said boiler at one end and free to expand at the other, alever supported by said tube, a contact-post having a lesser coefficient of expansion than the said tube and arranged to engage said lever near its fulcrum, a damper, a connection between said damper and said lever, and an adjustable weight on said lever to counterbalance said damper.

5. In a damper-regulating mechanism, a

wooden contact-post arranged to engage the damper-operating lever and provided with a metallic sleeve loosely but rather closely surrounding said post and serving to stiffen the latter and prevent it from bending or buckling when subjected to strain.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH E. WATTS. Witnesses:

H. E. LODGE, FRANCIS O. STANwoon. 

